CARACAS: Brazil were denied the chance to win a third straight men’s Olympic title after a 1-0 defeat to Argentina on Sunday that knocked them out of qualification for the Paris Games.
Champions of Rio 2016 and the Covid-postponed Tokyo 2020 Games in Brazil were held to a draw against their main continental rivals on the final day of South America’s pre-Olympic tournament in Venezuela.
But it is Argentina who now head to France seeking a third title after 2004 and 2008 thanks to Luciano Gondou’s second-half goal in Caracas.
Paraguay booked another ticket to Paris 2024 from South America with a 2-0 win over Venezuela.
Also read: England’s Leach ruled out of India tests with knee injury
Midfielder Diego Gomez’s penalty in the 48th minute and forward Marcelo Perez’s 75th-minute goal scored the goals for Paraguay’s Carlos Jara Saguier, who topped the qualifying tournament ahead of Argentina.
The qualifying tournament was limited to under-23 players, unlike the Olympics, where teams can use the services of three overage reinforcements.
And Argentina will now be on the phone to try and convince one very special 36-year-old, Lionel Messi, who starred in the 2008 Olympic gold medal, to join them in Paris.
“Everyone knows my relationship with Leo… and the door is open for him to join us,” said coach Javier Mascherano, Messi’s long-time former Argentina team-mate.
“It is up to him.”
